Dallas Cowboys Blog

Will RT Doug Free take a pay cut or be cut?: Dallas Cowboys want answer soon

IRVING – More than two weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys asked right tackle Doug Free to take a pay cut to stay on the team or decline and risk being cut.

The NFL draft has come and gone, and the Cowboys still don’t have an answer from Free.

However, owner Jerry Jones said Saturday night after the conclusion of the NFL draft that the Cowboys plan to immediately address the lingering Free situation and could meet with him as early as next week.

“We don’t have a deadline. We’re working on this thing. He’s working out. We’re fine with that,” Jones said. “But let’s be realistic. We will be right on this thing as we roll of this draft. We’ll get right on it with Free.”

Free’s base salary of $7 million makes him the highest-paid right tackle in the league in 2013. The Cowboys signed Free to a four-year, $32 million contract less than two years ago.

The club paid him as a left tackle, but Free moved to right tackle last in switching sides with Tyron Smith.

The Cowboys want to reduce Free’s pay after he’s struggled the last two seasons. Free allowed seven sacks last season and had a team-high 13 penalties enforced against him. In 2011, Free allowed 9½ sacks and also led the Cowboys with 10 penalties against him.

Over the final month of last season, Free split playing time with Jermey Parnell. If Free takes a pay cut and remains with the Cowboys, he’ll still have to compete with Parnell for playing time.

If Free is cut, the Cowboys could pursue free agent offensive tackles Eric Winston (Kansas City) and Tyson Clabo (Atlanta). The Cowboys have been in contact with both players’ agents, though no negotiations have taken place.

First, they need an answer from Free. And they should have that soon.

“I don’t have a specific time,” Jones said. “I just know sooner rather than later.”

Follow Brandon George on Twitter at @dmn_george.

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